Sensor activated ball and sport accessory with computer functionalities

ABSTRACT

A ball or sport accessory allows players to interact using a variety of computing functions; combines one or more sensors, displays, cameras, projectors, memory, hardware, processors or other components capable of providing computer functionality; allows users to record and share images and video, to receive live directions from coaches or other players, to understand or correct mistakes by replaying videos instantaneously, or to undertake other computing activity without the need of additional devices; allows users to listen to music or to watch two or three dimensional movie or television files; and/or functions as a cell phone. The ball or sport accessory may allow users to play video games, view holograms, project images or videos, and download websites and/or third party applications. The sport accessory may determine whether the user has sustained an impact that may cause a concussion, or whether the user may suffer a sunstroke.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/581,898, filed on Dec. 30, 2011, the contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to balls, athletic equipment,and sports accessories, and specifically sensor activated balls,athletic equipment and sports accessories.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many recreational or athletic activities require balls and other sportaccessories, such as bats, helmets, basketball hoops, etc. Butconventional balls or sport accessories typically are drab and dull,failing to stimulate the players' senses. For example, conventionalballs and sport accessories do not display images or play sounds when aplayer catches or touches them. The lack of interactivity ofconventional balls and sport accessories is particularly noticeable whena user is exercising alone, without anyone with which to interact. U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,316,293, 5,492,329, 5,761,096, 5,779,576, 6,012,995,6,157,898, 6,582,330, 6,695,728, 6,945,887, 7,273,431 and D647,286; U.S.Patent Publication Nos. 2005/0064966, 2010/0031424, 2010/0069181,2010/0285909, 2011/0205722, and 2011/0237367; and foreign patents nos.EP 0 136 217, EP 1 232 772, JP 2011-12375, KR 10-2011-088135, discussballs, sport accessories or devices with displays, but do not discloseactivating these displays by touch or sound. U.S. Publication No.2010/0313334 discloses a sports cap with a display that may be touchactivated, however the sports cap is not a durable ball or sportaccessory that players may use to engage in athletic or recreationalactivity. U.S. Publication No. 2009/0029808 discloses a basketball boardwith a display and a pressure type sensor, but does not disclose thatthe display provides computer functionality, such as mobile webbrowsing, social networking and/or voice calling. Conventional touchactivated devices do not have the design or durability to be used duringphysical athletic activities. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,082,578 and7,755,605 discuss devices that are used to activate a display screen;however these devices are not designed for athletic activity. Thesetouch activated devices are similar to control devices, such as acomputer mouse, that are used to manipulate graphical objects on userinterfaces, and are not durable enough to withstand sport activities.Thus, there is a need for balls and sport accessories that react to aplayer's actions, including touch, heat, and sound and have interactivefunctionality, yet are durable enough to withstand sport activities.

Additionally, conventional balls or sport accessories lack computerfunctionality. For example, conventional balls or sport accessories donot allow players to record images or videos, and share them withothers, such as through web pages and/or social networking sites. Oftenduring athletic play, players may want to record videos, play computergames, browse the web or execute other computer or electronicfunctionalities. However, many players do not use their phones, cameras,computers, game consoles, or other electronics during athletic activityfor fear these electronics might be damaged. U.S. Publication No.2011/0281621 provides a system that wirelessly integrates golf equipmentwith a computer, but does not provide computer functionality as part ofthe actual golf equipment. Thus, there is a need for balls or sportaccessories that can be used during athletic play while allowing playersto socially interact with one another.

Furthermore, conventional sport accessories lack the ability to sensethe potential for or existence of concussions or sunstroke, andinforming a physician, parent, or other person when there is a potentialfor or existence of concussions or sunstroke so that medical attentioncan be provided if necessary. For example, conventional sportaccessories lack the ability to sense the impact of forces that maycause a player to suffer a concussion; determine when a potentialconcussion may have occurred; and communicate to the player and/or withan outside party (e.g., coach, physician or parent) when a player hassuffered a potential concussion. Thus there is a need for a sportaccessory that can determine when a concussion may have occurred, andinstantly alert the player and contact the appropriate personnel toassist the player.

Conventional sport accessories also lack the ability to sense the vitalsigns of a player, determine whether the player may suffer or hassuffered a sunstroke, and communicate with an outside party (e.g. coach,physician, or parent) when the player may suffer or has suffered asunstroke. Thus there is a need for a sport accessory that can determinewhen a player may be in danger of sunstroke or that a player hassuffered a sunstroke, and instantly alert the player of the existingdanger, and can contact the appropriate personnel to assist the player.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above discussion and the shortcomings in the prior art,various embodiments of the invention seek to overcome such shortcomingsof the prior art by providing a ball or sport accessory that combinessensors, displays, and computer functionality.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a novel ball foruse in sport activities includes a ball skin, a display that may beattached to the ball skin, one or more sensors that may be located oneither the ball skin or the display, and electronic components that arewithin the ball skin. The display of the ball may be activated when oneor more sensors are activated. The ball may include computerfunctionality.

In some embodiments, the sensors may sense touch, sound, light, image orheat. In some embodiments, the ball may include one or more cameras,projectors, speakers, or microphones that may be activated by thesensors. The display of the ball may be composed of flexible materials,such as OLED, AMOLED or PMOLED materials. The display of the ball may bea touchscreen that may display images, videos, emails, articles, webpages, touchscreen keyboards, menus, interactive panels or socialnetwork pages. The electronic components may include a processor, amemory, a power supply, an accelometer, a gyroscope, a Wi-Fi chip, aWi-Fi antenna, an USB dock, a power supply, a speaker controller chip, atouchscreen controller chip, a camera sensor chip and lens, a projectorsensor chip and lens, a microphone, a holographic image sensor, aBluetooth transmitter and receiver, a video recorder, a projector, afan, and a cooling pad. The electronic components may include softwareinstructions for executing at least one of music players, web browsers,e-mail access, text messaging, onscreen keyboards, voice dialing,Bluetooth capabilities, character recognition, synchronization ofmultiple email accounts, synchronization of desktop or laptop computersor other devices, voice recording, GPS, Microsoft Office (MS) compatibleapplications, social networking functionality, multi-playerconnectivity, multi-application execution capability, softwareapplications, Wi-Fi, 2G/3G/4G connectivity, menus allowing thenavigation of different applications, multimedia applications, digitalcamera access applications, Internet television display, Internet radio,touch holograms and kinetic technology.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a novel sportaccessory for use in sport activities includes a shell, a display thatmay be attached to the shell, one or more sensors that may be located oneither the shell or the display, and electronic components that arewithin the shell of the sport accessory. The display may be activatedwhen one or more sensors are activated. The sport accessory may includecomputer functionality.

In some embodiments, the sensors may sense touch, sound, light, image orheat. In some embodiments, the sport accessory may include one or morecameras, projectors, speakers, or microphones that may be activated bythe sensors. The display of the sport accessory may be composed offlexible materials, such as OLED, AMOLED or PMOLED materials. Thedisplay of the sport accessory may be a touchscreen that may displayimages, videos, emails, articles, web pages, touchscreen keyboards,menus, interactive panels or social network pages. The electroniccomponents may include a processor, a memory, a power supply, anaccelometer, a gyroscope, a Wi-Fi chip, a Wi-Fi antenna, an USB dock,power supply, a speaker controller chip, a touchscreen controller chip,a camera sensor chip and lens, a projector sensor chip and lens, amicrophone, a holographic image sensor, a Bluetooth transmitter andreceiver, a video recorder, a projector, a fan, and a cooling pad. Theelectronic components may include software instructions for executing atleast one of music players, web browsers, e-mail access, text messaging,onscreen keyboards, voice dialing, Bluetooth capabilities, characterrecognition, synchronization of multiple email accounts, synchronizationof desktop or laptop computers or other devices, voice recording, GPS,Microsoft Office (MS) compatible applications, social networkingfunctionality, multi-player connectivity, multi-application executioncapability, software applications, Wi-Fi, 2G/3G/4G connectivity, menusallowing the navigation of different applications, multimediaapplications, digital camera access applications, Internet televisiondisplay, Internet radio, touch holograms and kinetic technology.

In some embodiments of the sport accessory, the sport accessory mayinclude one or more pressure sensors that measure a force exerted on thesport accessory and transmits the force to the electronic components.The sport accessory may be a helmet and its electronic components maydetermine whether the force exerted on the helmet caused a concussion.The electronic components may store information about a person wearingthe helmet that includes at least one of the person's weight, heightage, blood pressure, pulse rate, allergies, medical history of pastconcussion, and medical history of hypertension. The electroniccomponents may use one or more of the force and the stored informationto determine whether a potential concussion has occurred. The electroniccomponents may determine that a potential concussion has occurred andtransmit an alert to an outside party and/or the person wearing thehelmet. The sport accessory may include a microphone, speaker and/orheadset that provide for communication between the person and theoutside party. The sport accessory may communicate wirelessly with atleast one health monitor device, at least one of the health monitorssenses the person's vital signs and transmits them to the helmet, andthe electronic components determine whether the person is in danger ofsuffering a sunstroke. The electronic components may alert at least oneof an outside party and the person wearing the helmet when theelectronic components determine that the person is in danger ofsuffering a sunstroke.

In some embodiments, the sports accessory may be a helmet thatcommunicates wirelessly with at least one health monitor device thatsenses a person's vital signs and transmits the vital signs to thehelmet, and the electronic components determine whether the person is indanger of suffering a sunstroke. The electronic components transmit analert to an outside party and/or the person wearing the helmet when theelectronic components determine that the person is in danger ofsuffering a sunstroke or has suffered a sunstroke. The sport accessorymay include a microphone, speaker and/or headset providing forcommunication between the person and the outside party.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments of the present invention will be better understoodwhen read in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein likereference numerals refer to like components. For the purposes ofillustrating the present application, preferred embodiments are shown inthe drawings. It should be understood and appreciated, however, that theapplication is not limited to the precise arrangements, structures,features, embodiments, aspects, and devices shown, and the arrangements,structures, features, embodiments, aspects and devices shown may be usedsingularly or in combination with other arrangements, structures,features, embodiments, aspects and devices.

The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and are not in any wayintended to limit the scope of this invention, but merely to clarifyillustrated embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a football according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an x-ray view of the football shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the football shown in FIG. 1 and anillustrative screen shot displayed on the football shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the football shown in FIG. 1 and anotherillustrative screen shot displayed on the football shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the football shown in FIG. 1 and aplurality of devices for use with the football shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a football according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a football according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a basketball according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bat according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 10 is a rear view of a helmet according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the helmet shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the helmet shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 14 is a front view of a helmet according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 15 is a side view of the helmet shown in FIG. 14; and

FIG. 16 is a helmet according to an embodiment of the present inventionwith an illustrative screenshot, and a physician and a plurality ofdevices that may interact with the helmet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Certain exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be discussedwith reference to the aforementioned figures. In general, suchembodiments relate to a ball or sport accessory, although as one ofordinary skill in the art can appreciate, certain embodiments of thepresent invention can be utilized in connection with various otherrecreational or athletic devices or the like. Embodiments of a ball or asport accessory according to the present invention are described below.These embodiments are provided for the purpose only of illustratingprinciples of the present invention, and should not be interpreted aslimiting the invention in any way beyond the scope of the claims andtheir equivalents.

A ball or sport accessory combines one or more sensors, displays,cameras, projectors, memory, hardware, processors or other componentscapable of providing computer abilities. The ball or sport accessory maybe suitable for games such as basketball, soccer, American football,rugby, volley ball, handball, dodge ball, baseball, softball, tennis,etc. The ball may include footballs, basketballs, soccer balls,handballs, dodge balls, volley balls, etc. The sport accessory may be avariety of accessories that may be used during athletic activities,including, but not limited to bats, racquets, basket ball hoops etc.

A ball or sport accessory, according to the present invention, isinteractive and may be used during athletic or recreational activity.The ball or sport accessory may be made out of any material that issuitable for athletic play and/or smart touch technologies. The materialmay be composed of material that is weather proof, including materialthat is resistant to water, wind, heat, and cold. Alternatively, thematerial may be coated with a coating that is weather proof, such asrubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), silicone elastomer,fluoropolymers, or wax.

The present invention provides an advantage over the prior art byallowing players to activate a variety of features and computerfunctions through a variety of sensors. For example, the presentinvention allows players to use a ball or sport accessory to record andshare images and video, receive live directions from coaches or otherplayers, understand or correct mistakes by replaying videosinstantaneously, or undertake other computer activity without the needof additional devices. The smart touch electronic balls or sportaccessories, according to the present invention, are cordless, mobile,wirelessly connectable to the Internet, and/or capable of voice andvideo communication.

The ball or sport accessory may include sensors that may sense motion,touch, light, heat or sound for activating a display, sound, or otherfeatures. The ball or sport accessory may also include a projector andan input device, such as a keyboard or track-pad. The ball or sportaccessory may include a display that may display lights, two or threedimensional images or videos, and/or lenticular images. The surface ofthe display may have sufficient mechanical strength to withstand theforces that the ball or sport accessory may be subjected to duringrecreational and competitive athletic play. The display may be in partor in whole bendable or stretchable, resistant to abrasion, and/or havenon-slip properties. The display may be weather proof, includingmaterial that is resistant to water, wind, heat, and cold. For example,the display may be composed of material that is weather proof.Alternatively, the display may be coated with a weather proof coating,such as rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), siliconeelastomer, fluoropolymers, or wax.

The ball or sport accessory may also have speakers or other devices forrecording and outputting sound and music. The display, speakers or otherelements of the ball or sport accessory may be controlled by a remotedevice, such as a remote controller or keyboard. The ball may alsoinclude a camera that may record pictures or video and/or outputpictures or video to the display.

The ball or sport accessory may include computer functionality,including an operating system capable of running software applications.The operating system may be a Microsoft based system, an Apple basedoperating system, a Google operating system, or any other type ofoperating systems. The software applications may be related tonationally known sport organizations, such as the National FootballLeague (NFL), National basketball Association (NBA), Major LeagueBaseball (MLB), National Hockey League (NHL), National Basketball League(NBL), etc. The ball or sport accessory may provide athletic players theability to interact with others via a ball or sport accessory computerdevice that is also designed for sport activities. The computerfunctionality may allow players additional advantages in sport training,as well as the ability to connect live to other players andinstantaneously share files with other players or friends. The computerfunctionality of the ball or sport accessory may also allow users tolisten to music or to watch two or three-dimensional movie or televisionfiles that are streamed live via the Internet or are downloaded to theball or sport accessory. The ball or sport accessory may function as acellular or mobile phone. The ball or sport accessory may also allowusers to play video games, view holograms, project images or videos, anddownload web servers and/or third party applications.

The ball or sport accessory preferably implements smart touch technologythat allows players to experience and share their sport activities onmany levels, including using mobile computer functions while undertakingthese sport activities. The ball or sport accessory provides theadvantage that it can withstand athletic impact forces, weather, andathletic activities, while providing computer functionality. The ball orsport accessory further provides the advantage of a touch activatedflexible screen that may be stretched and that can fit within any ballor sport accessory.

The sport accessory may be a helmet that may sense and alert a playerand/or outside party when the player experiences forces associated witha concussion, such as when the player experiences an impact. The helmetmay include pressure sensors that detect when there is an impact to thehelmet, and/or the force exerted on the head of the player wearing thehelmet. The pressure sensors may be positioned around the inner walland/or padding of the helmet. The helmet may include accelerometersensors to detect the acceleration of the helmet to calculate the forceexerted on the player's head. The helmet may also sense and alert when aplayer may suffer or has suffered a sunstroke. The helmet may includephoto-sensors for determining a player's vital signs, including bloodpressure, pulse rate, and/or body temperature, and alert the playerand/or outside party when there are signs of sunstroke, such as highbody temperature and rapid pulse. The helmet may be used in a variety ofsports, such as baseball, football, ice hockey, etc.

The helmet may also communicate with a variety of external devices thatmay sense the player's health vital signs. For example, the helmet maycommunicate with a watch or a body band that may register the player'sblood pressure, pulse rate, and/or body temperature. The externaldevices may sense a variety of vital signs, such as blood pressure,pulse rate, and/or body temperature. The external devices may bewatches, body bands, or wearable fabrics.

The helmet may include a computer that may determine whether the impactmay have caused a concussion. The helmet may warn players of thepotential concussion. The helmet may include the capability for one ortwo way communication between the player wearing the helmet and anoutside third party, such as a physician, parent and/or coach. After thecomputer determines that a potential concussion may have occurred, thecomputer may initiate one way communication with the player and or anoutside party not within the immediate proximity of the player; and/ortwo-way communication between the player and/or the outside party. Thehelmet may notify the player by a voice or sound alert via a microphoneor speaker that advises the player that he has suffered an impact thatmay have caused a concussion. The helmet may notify the outside partyvia a text message and/or voicemail message that the player has sufferedan impact that may have a caused a concussion. The helmet may allow theoutside party to communicate with the player wearing the helmet. Theoutside party may be a person or it may be an automated voice responsesystem. The outside party may determine whether the player hasconcussion symptoms or should seek medical attention by asking theplayer questions to evaluate whether the impact has disrupted brainfunction such as memory, consciousness, and organized thought; and mayperform nerocognitive testing on the player while he is on the field.The helmet may communicate with an outside system or may determine onits own whether the player has a concussion.

The helmet may allow outside personnel to assist a player during thegame and alert the appropriate medical staff. The helmet may allow liveaccess to a player's health statistics and may allow monitoring of theplayer's health during injury or sunstroke.

An embodiment of a football 100 according to the present invention isillustrated in FIGS. 1-5. The football 100 preferably includes one ormore sensors 110, a display screen 120, components 230, a camera 140,speakers 150, and an Universal Serial Bus (USB) port 260. The components230 may communicate directly and indirectly with the sensors 110, thedisplay screen 120, the camera 140, the speakers 150, and the USB port260 via wires or wireless connections. The football 100 may communicatewith other devices via wires or wireless connections. With reference toFIG. 5, the football 100 may wirelessly send signals to and receivesignals from a television 510, joystick 520, laptop 530, keyboard 540,cell phone 550, remote control 560, tablet computer 570, or game console580. Alternatively, the football 100 may communicate with any otherdevices that are capable of wirelessly sending and/or receiving signals.The television 510, joystick 520, laptop 530, keyboard 540, cell phone550, remote controller 560, tablet computer 570, or game console 580 maycontrol the functionality of the football 100 or may send and receivecontent and electronic files to and from the football 100, includingfiles such as video, image, music, or sound files. The football 100 mayinclude a keypad or trackpad integrated on the outer surface of thefootball 100 for controlling the content and functionality of thefootball 100.

The sensors 110 of football 100 preferably sense motion, touch, light,heat or sound. The sensors 110 can be located on the outer surface ofthe football 100 or may be located in whole or in part on the display120 of the football 100.

The sensors 110 may include components that are responsive to touch. Forexample, the sensors 110 may include panels or portions that includecomponents that have resistive components, surface acoustic wavecomponents, and/or capacitive components. The sensors 110 may sense whena user touches certain parts of the football 100. Alternatively, or inaddition to, the sensors 110 may sense when a user touches any part ofthe football 100.

In order to sense touch, the sensors 110 preferably have a continuouselectrical current running through them. When a user touches the sensors110, the voltage in and around the area touched by the user preferablychanges in magnitude. The sensors 110 sense this change and transmit thelocation and magnitude in the changes in voltage to the components 230.The touch sensors may be activated by a voltage of 1.8-12 V, or by avariety of other voltage ranges, depending on the type of touch sensorsthat are implemented in the football 100. The sensors 110 may sensecomplex gestures, including gestures that involve touching multipleparts of the display screen in order to interact with the contentdisplayed on the display screen. For example, the sensors 110 may sensewhen a user is attempting to move content across a visual display bydragging the content with their finger. The sensors 110 may also sensewhen a user uses their fingers to make a “pinching” motion in order tomanipulate content shown on the display.

The sensors 110 may include one or more of the following types of touchsensors: single/double button, Active stylus, two-touch, unlimitedtouch, sliders, wheel sensors, touch switches, deadman switches,capacitive sensing sensors, multi touch technology sensors, touch padand track pad sensors. For example, the sensors 110 may be capacitivesensors such as those manufactured by Alps Electric Corporation, Cirque,or Synaptics. Alternatively, or in addition to, the sensors 110 may betouchscreen sensors, such as those manufactured by Bending Wave, GDS,Capacitive-Alps Electric Corporation, Atmel, Cirque, Cypress, HostOptical, Synaptics, Infrared, or Neonode. Alternatively, or in additionto, the sensors 110 may be projected capacitance sensors, such as thosemanufactured by Visual Planet, Bending Wave, GDS, 3M, Elo or any othertype of touch sensors. Alternatively, or in addition to, the sensors 110may be surface acoustic wave sensors, such as those manufactured by EloTouchSystems or General Touch. Alternatively, or in addition to, thesensors 110 may be resistive sensors, such as those manufactured by EloTouchSystems or 3M.

The sensors 110 may be a variety of sound sensors. For example, thesensors 110 may be one or more of the following types of sound sensors:piezoelectric microphone, fiber optic microphone, liquid microphone(which may be operable in an aquatic environment),Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphone, speakers asmicrophone, or any others type of sound sensors.

The sensors 110 may be a variety of image or light sensors. For example,the sensors 110 may be one or more of the following types of image orlight sensors: electro-optical sensors, ambient light sensors,active-matrix light-emitting diode (AMOLED) circuit, light-addressablepotentiometric sensors, photo sensors, active-pixel sensors, photodiodearrays, light emitting diode (LED) circuits, photodiodes,phototransistors, photoelectric sensors, photomultipliers,photo-resistors, or any others type of image sensors. Some manufacturersof the sensors 110 may include Agilent, Aptina, Canesta, Canon, MicronTechnology, Nikon, ESS Technology, Fuji, MagnaChip, CypressSemiconductor, Eastman Kodak, Matsushita, Fuji, MagnaChip, Pix ArtImaging, TransChip, or Trusight.

The sensors 110 may be a variety of heat, sound, motion or other typesof sensors. For example, the sensors 110 may be motion sensors, such assensors that sense proximity and/or movement. The sensors 110 may bevisual sensors, such as one or more of the following: optical sensor,virtual sensor, video sensor technology, touch hologram, infra-redsensor. The sensors 110 may be heat sensors, such as silicon bandgaptemperature sensors. The sensors 110 may be pressure and impact sensors.The sensors 110 may be transducers, or any other type of temperature,motion, visual and pressure sensors.

Upon activation of one or more of the sensors 110, the football 100 maydisplay one or more of the following: lights, lenticular images, images,video, or various computer generated graphics. The sensors 110 may alsoactivate an operating system, such as a Microsoft, Apple, Googleoperating system that provides users the ability to access a variety ofsoftware applications and functions, including the applications andfunctions discussed below with respect to components 230. In particular,the display 120 of the football 100 may display lights, colors, two orthree-dimensional images or videos, or lenticular images. The display120 may have sufficient mechanical strength to withstand the normalforces and high impact pressure that the football 100 may be subjectedto during recreational and competitive play. The display 120 may includea single display or multiple display panels. The display 120 may be inpart or in whole resistant to abrasion and may have non-slip properties.

The display 120 and/or the outside skin of the football 100 may bebendable, stretchable, or flexible, allowing a user to manipulate theshape of the football 100 while maintaining the ability to utilize thedisplay 120 and other features of the football 100. Additionally, thedisplay 120 may be stretched during or after manufacturing. For example,a bendable or flexible display 120 may be composed of a skin flexibleAMOLED that may include thin-film display technology in which organiccompounds form the electroluminescent material and an active matrixrefers to the technology behind the addressing of pixels. Alternatively,the display 120 may be composed of an organic light-emitting diode(OLED), which is a light-emitting diode (LED) in which the emissiveelectroluminescent layer is a film of organic compounds that emits lightin response to an electric current. This layer of organic semiconductormaterial may be situated between two electrodes. Generally, at least oneof these electrodes is transparent. Alternatively, the display 120 maybe composed of a passive-matrix OLED (PMOLED) that may include strips ofcathode, organic layers and strips of anode. The display 120 may beprinted onto any surface or suitable substrate and in particular may becomposed of a flexible OLED structure that allows the surface to beshaped in the shape of football 100.

The display 120 may include touch sensors that may sense a user'sinteraction with the display 120. The display 120 may include one ormore of the sensors 110 described above. The display 120 may be in wholeor in part a touchscreen display, such as a resistive screen and/or acapacitive screen display.

The display 120 may sense the touch of a finger or a stylus. The display120 may include multi-touch technology that senses when multipleportions of a display are touched simultaneously by fingers and/orstyluses. With reference to FIG. 3, the display 120 may display ascreenshot 370 that has an interactive touchscreen keyboard that allowsthe user to type emails, notes, commands, status updates via socialnetworks, etc. FIG. 4 demonstrates another illustrative screen shot 470that displays a different interface on the display 120. The screen shot470 displays an interactive menu that allows a player to play music bytouching the display 120. The sensors on the display 120 may allow usersto interact with a graphical interface shown on the display 120. Forexample, users may use their fingers to zoom in and out of web pages andimages by placing two fingers on the screen and spreading them fartherapart or bringing them closer together. The sensors on the display 120may allow users to scroll through a long list or menu by sliding afinger over the display from bottom to top, or vice versa. The sensors120 may allow users to type texts, hyperlinks, notes, articles, socialnetworking updates, and other information by tapping the display.

The components 230 may allow the display 120 and the football 100 toprovide computer functionality. For example, the components 230 mayallow the football 100 to provide Internet connectivity, socialnetworking functionality, games, third party applications, web browsing,email, etc. The components 230 in combination with display 120 maydisplay lights, images, or videos in two or three dimensions.Alternatively, the components 230 in combination with the speakers 150may play sounds and/or music. The components 230 may include elementsthat connect to a memory or the USB port 260 via a wired or wirelessInternet connection.

The components 230 may include a memory and a processor. The memory maybe any type of memory, including, but not limited to random accessmemory such as DRAM, SRAM, T-RAM, ZRAM, TTRAM memory, virtual memory,flash memory, or embedded memory. The processor may include one or moreof the following: a microprocessor that draws power from a rechargeablebattery, a computer CPU that executes commands in clock cycles, an underclocked processor that may run fewer instructions per second then theprocessor is capable of executing in order to reduce heat production andconserve battery life.

The components 230 may include one or more of the following: anaccelometer, a two- or three-axis gyroscope, a graphics and/or videoprocessor, a Wi-Fi and/or cellular chip and/or antenna, an USB dock, apower supply, a speaker controller chip, a touchscreen controller chip,a camera sensor chip and lens, a projector sensor chip and lens, amicrophone operating alone or with a microphone connector, a holographicimage sensor, data storage, a Bluetooth transmitter and receiver, avideo recorder, a projector, a fan, and/or a cooling pad for cooling thecomponents 230.

The components 230 may include hardware and/or software for andproviding the football 100 computer functionalities, including, but notlimited to: music players; web browsers; e-mail access; text messaging;mini-keyboards; onscreen keyboards; voice dialing; Bluetoothcapabilities; character recognition (allowing for handwritten input);synchronization capabilities of multiple email accounts; synchronizationcapabilities of desktop or laptop computers or other devices; voicerecording; GPS; web browsing; Microsoft Office (MS) compatibleapplications (for example, a native system with Pocket PC operatingsystems or a Google operating systems that may require third-partysoftware); social networking functionality, including You Tube,Facebook, Twitter, and Internet connectivity; multi-player connectivity;multi-application execution capability; software applications, includingthird party applications; Wi-Fi, and/or 2G/3G/4G connectivity.

The components 230 may include software that includes instructions forexecuting an operating system with a set of programs that managecomputer hardware resources and provide common services for applicationsoftware. For example, the components 230 may be pre-loaded withoperating systems. Alternatively, operating systems may be laterdownloaded to the components 230. The operating systems may includeandroid operating system, iOS, Linux, Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, orany operating systems that can be incorporated in a computer device,include cellular phones, computer, or video game devices, or webservers.

The components 230 may include one or more pre-loaded or downloadedsoftware applications, including browsers, menus allowing the navigationof different applications, multimedia applications, digital cameraaccess applications, Internet television display, touchscreen keyboards,Internet radio, or kinetic technology. The components 230 may allowreal-time remote access to and from the football 100. The components 230may allow either multi-user or single-user access, and may allowmulti-tasking or single-tasking access. The components 230 may allow theuse of a distributed or embedded personal office, mobile phone, digitalcamera, or game consoles. The components 230 may allow personalizedaccess for a specific user, including authentication functionality. Thecomponents 230 may allow the football 100 to act as a single portal, forexample as a web portal.

The components 230 are preferably fixed to the inner surface of thefootball 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the components 230 are preferablyfixed to the inner surface of the skin of the football 100. For example,the components 230 may be secured in a compartment fixed on the innersurface of skin of the football 100. Alternatively, the components 230may be located anywhere within the interior of the football 100.

The camera 140 may include the ability to take pictures or video. Thecamera 140 may include one or more of the following: a DigitalMicromirror Device (DMD) chip in a projector based on Digital LightProcessing (DLP) technology, an image sensor format camera, a highdefinition or high resolution digital camera, a Digital Video camera, abuilt-in digital camera, a virtual camera, or a kinetic camera.Alternatively, the football 100 may include multiple cameras. The imagesor video recorded by the camera 140 may be displayed on the display 120or may be transmitted via a wired or wireless connection to other users.The images or video recorded by the camera 140 may also be stored in thefootball 100 for later use. The operation of the camera 140 may becontrolled through a touch interface of the display screen 120.Alternatively, or in addition to, the operation of the camera 140 may becontrolled through a variety of buttons or touch interfaces on thefootball 100. Alternatively, or in addition to, the operation of thecamera 140 may be controlled through a remote device, such as thedevices shown in FIG. 5.

The speakers 150 may allow the football 100 to output sound and music.The speakers 150 may be two or more internal speakers that push soundthrough two small channels leading to three audio ports in the device.The football 100 may include a volume switch, a 3.5-mm TRRS connector,an audio output for providing sound or music for headphones or otherdevices, a video jack for allowing connection to other devices, and amicrophone that can be used for recording sound.

The USB port 260 may allow a user to connect the football 100 to acomputer or an electronic device. The football 100 may download data orinformation relating to videos, images, sounds, music, or otherinformation via the USB port 260. The USB port 260 may also allow abattery of the football 100 to be charged via the USB port 260.

Using the components 230, the display 120 and other features, thefootball 100 may advantageously provide players a smart touch sportscomputer device that is cordless (unless being charged), mobile (easilytransportable), always connected (via Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G etc.) and is capableof voice and video communication, Internet browsing, and/or“geo-location” capabilities. The football 100 can operate multipleapplications simultaneously, such as simultaneous operation of email andvideo applications.

The football 100 may also include a projector. The project is preferablya mini-projector that is sized to fit within the football 100. Theprojector may allow players or users to project and view images and/orvideo on a larger screen. The projector may allow players to use onedevice for both athletic and recreational activities and for displayingvideos or images. The projector may be located within the interior ofthe football 100, or may be in whole or in part located outside of thefootball 100. The projector 100 may allow players and coaches to reviewgames or plays in order to correct their play and share their favoritemoments of the game.

The football 100 may include touch hologram technology. For example, thetouch holograms may be implemented using haptic technology, such asAirborne Ultrasound Tactile Display technology, that provides tactilefeedback to a user by applying forces, vibrations or motions to theuser. The touch hologram may create tactile feeling for a user orplayer. The touch hologram may also display an interactive hologram. Thetouch hologram may be part of the outer surface of the football 100 oras part of the display 120.

Another embodiment of a football 600 is illustrated in FIG. 6. Thefootball 600 may include sensors 610, display 620, speakers 650, and anUSB port 660 with components, and computer functionality and operabilityas described above with reference to the football 100. The football 600may be entirely stretchable and/or bendable. For example, the football600 may be composed of OLED, AMOLED or PMOLED material as describedabove with regard to the display 120. Alternatively, the football 600may be composed of any flexible or bendable material. The flexible orbendable material may allow the football 600 to be twisted in a varietyof directions, such as directions A and B. The football 600 can also bestretched in a variety of directions, such as directions C and D.

Another embodiment of a football 700 is illustrated in FIG. 7. Thefootball 700 may include sensors, a display, inner components 730,camera, speakers, a USB port, and/or computer functionality andoperability as described above with reference to the football 100. Theinner components 730 may be connected to an inner part 701. The innerpart 701 may be composed of plastic or other hard material, and may bealigned to the interior of the football 701. The inner part 701 maystabilize the components 730, allowing the football 701 to function as acomputer during or after athletic play.

An embodiment of a basketball 800 is illustrated in FIG. 8. Thebasketball 800 may include sensors 810, display 820, camera 840, and aUSB port 860 as described above with reference to the football 100. Thebasketball 800 may include a plurality of components, and computerfunctionality and operability as described above with reference to thefootball 100.

An embodiment of a bat 900 is illustrated in FIG. 9. The bat 900 mayinclude sensors 910, display 920, camera 940, and an USB port 960 asdescribed above with reference to the football 100. The bat 900 mayinclude a plurality of computer functionalities as described above withreference to the football 100.

An embodiment of a helmet 1000 is illustrated in FIGS. 10-12. The helmet1000 may include sensors 1010, display 1020, camera 1140, speakers 1050,and a USB port 1060 as described above with reference to the football100. The helmet 1000 may include a plurality of components, and/orcomputer functionality and operability as described above with referenceto the football 100.

An embodiment of a system diagram 1300 of a ball or sport accessory isillustrated in FIG. 13. The system 1300 may be implemented in thefootballs 100, 600 or 700, the basketball 800, bat 900, helmets 1000 or1400, or any other ball or sport accessory in accordance with thepresent invention. The system 1300 may include display/touch sensors1310, projector/third party application software 1320, storage 1330,audio/volume components 1340, microphone 1350, video card/light sensor1360, lens 1370, sensor 1380 and processor 1390. The processor 1390 maycontrol the functionality of all the other components functioning withinthe ball or sport accessory of the present invention. For example, theprocessor 1390 may control the sensors, including touch sensor 1310,light sensor 1360, or sensor 1380. The processor 1390 may also controlsoftware that affects the information that is displayed or the soundthat is outputted for the ball or sport accessory. The processor 1390receive a signal that one of the sensors has been activated, and in turnactivate a variety of components of the ball or sport accessory. Forexample, the processor 1390 may activate the display 1310 to displayvideo or images, including graphical user interfaces. The processor 1390may also execute the projector software or third application software1320 that may access information stored in memory 1330,

The display 1310 may include touch sensors that are capable of sensingcomplex hand or stylus motions. Based on the projector software or thirdparty application software 1320, the ball or sport accessory may projectinformation for display on a screen, or may display or projectinformation about a variety of activities, including email or socialnetworking. The audio/volume control 1340 may control the output ofsound and may register sound information received by a device, such asmicrophone 1350. The video card/light sensor 1360 may register video orimages received by a device, such as the lens 1370. The video card/lightsensor 1360 may include the ability of adding special effects which maybe programmed or customized by a user. The sensor 1380 may be any typeof sensor, include a sensor that may sense temperature, sound, light,touch, motion, etc.

An embodiment of a helmet 1400 is illustrated in FIGS. 14-15. The helmet1400 may include sensors, display, camera, speakers, a USB port,components and/or a plurality of computer functionality and operabilityas described above with reference to the football 100. The helmet 1400may include a plurality of pressure sensors 1401. The pressure sensors1401 may include one or more of the following types of sensors: flexforce pressure sensors, piezoelectric sensors, impact sensors, miniaturetri-axial sensors, velocity sensors, or any other type of motion sensor.The sensors 1401 may be integrated into the structure of the helmet,such as into the shell of the helmet, the foam padding of the helmet, orany other part of the helmet structure. The sensors 1401 may detectforce, torque, and/or acceleration exerted on the helmet 1400.

The helmet 1400 may include a computer that may receive information fromsensors 1401 and/or other sensors and may determine whether the playerwearing the helmet may have suffered a concussion. The computer of thehelmet 1400 may also determine whether to notify the player and/or anoutside party. The computer may store information about the player, suchas the player's weight, height, age, blood pressure, pulse rate,allergies, medical record of past concussion, hypertension tendencies,etc. The computer may register an impact based on the information sensedby the sensors 1401. Upon registering an impact, the computer maydetermine the force of the impact based on the information from thesensors 1401 and/or from the stored information. Based on the stored andinformation and/or the information from the sensors 1401, the computermay determine whether a potential concussion has occurred using the HeadImpact Criterion (HIC) and Head Severity Index (HSI). If the computerdetermines a potential concussion has occurred, the computer may notify(1) an outside party via a text message and/or voicemail message; and/or(2) the player wearing the helmet 1400 via a voice and/or sound alert.The computer may include software and/or hardware that may calculateacceleration, force, torque, power, velocity, distance, or impactsuffered by a player; and perform the HIC and HSI. The computer mayinclude software and/or hardware that may analyze whether potentialdanger exists to the player based on prior determinations and storedinformation.

The helmet may include a microphone and/or a speaker or headset thatpermits one and/or two-way communication between the player an outsideparty. The outside party may be a person, such as a coach, parent,physician, nurse, assistant, etc. Alternatively, the outside party maybe an automated voice service, such as an artificial intelligenceinteractive voice response system. The communication system may besimilar to automatic collision notification system available in theautomobile industry, such as the OnStar System.

Upon notification, the outside party may perform nerocognitive testing,ask the player a series of questions in order to determine if the impactdisrupted brain function such as memory, consciousness, and organizedthought, and/or determine whether the player is ready to return to thegame. If the outside party is an automated system, the helmet mayinclude software or may communicate with outside software that performsthe nerocognitive testing, asks the player a series of questions inorder to determine if the impact disrupted brain function such asmemory, consciousness, and organized thought, and/or determines whetherthe player is ready to return to the game.

The computer in the helmet 1400 may perform nerocognitive testing on theplayer; determine whether the player wearing the helmet 1400 sufferedmemory loss, lacks clarity of thought, and/or or suffers from loss ofbalance, dizziness, light sensitivity, and/or noise sensitivity; whethercertain methods of treatment are particularly appropriate; whethermedical attention should be sought; or whether it is safe to return tothe game.

An embodiment of a helmet 1600 is illustrated in FIG. 16. Helmet 1600may include sensors, display, camera, speakers, a USB port, components,and/or a plurality of computer functionality and operability asdescribed above with reference to the football 100. Helmet 1600 mayinclude a plurality of pressure sensors, a computer, computer, softwareand communication functionalities as described above with reference tohelmet 1400.

Helmet 1600 may communicate with a plurality of external devices thatcan sense a player's vital signs. Helmet 1600 may communicate with awatch 1601, a body band 1602, and/or a wearable sensor fabric 1603.Devices 1601, 1602, 1603 may communicate with the helmet 1600 usingBluetooth, Wi-Fi, Internet, or other wireless communication methodology.Devices 1601, 1602, 1603 may sense a variety of vital signs, such aspulse rate, blood pressure, and/or body temperature. The informationsensed by devices 1601, 1602, 1603 may be used by the computer todetermine to perform HCI and HSI and determine whether a potentialconcussion has occurred, whether the player should participate in agame, and/or whether the player should receive a particular method oftreatment, as explained above with reference to helmet 1400.

The information sensed by devices 1601, 1602 1603 may also be used todetermine whether the player may suffer or has suffered a sunstroke. Asexplained above with reference to helmet 1400, helmet 1600 alerts theplayer and/or outside party when the player may suffer from a concussionor sunstroke, and/or has suffered a concussion or heatstroke. Thecomputer of helmet 1600 may further include software and/or hardwarethat may determine whether the player may suffer or has suffered asunstroke.

Helmet 1600 may also display information about the player's vital signs.For example, as shown in screenshot 1604, helmet 1600 may display aplayer's blood pressure and pulse rate. As described with respect to thehelmet 1400, the helmet 1600 may allow an outside party, such asphysician 1606, to ask a player questions about a potential concussion.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scopeof the claims and their equivalents.

Any number of the features of the different embodiments described hereinmay be combined into one single embodiment, the locations of particularelements can be altered and alternate embodiments having fewer than ormore than all of the features herein described are possible.Functionality may also be, in whole or in part, distributed amongmultiple components, in manners now known or to become known.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could bemade to the embodiments described above without departing from the broadinventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that thisinvention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but itis intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention. While there had been shown and described fundamentalfeatures of the invention as applied to being exemplary embodimentsthereof, it will be understood that omissions and substitutions andchanges in the form and details of the disclosed invention may be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of theinvention. Moreover, the scope of the present invention coversconventionally known, future developed variations and modifications tothe components described herein as would be understood by those skilledin the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A ball for use in sport activities comprising: aball skin having an outer surface and an inner volume; a display that isattached to the ball skin; at least one sensor located on at least oneof the outer surface of the ball skin and the display; and electroniccomponents located within the inner volume of the ball skin; wherein thedisplay is activated by the sensor, and wherein the ball providescomputer functionality.
 2. The ball of claim 1, wherein the at least onesensor is at least one of a touch sensor, sound sensor, light sensor,image sensor, and heat sensor.
 3. The ball of claim 1, furthercomprising at least one of a camera, a projector, a speaker, and amicrophone that is activated by the at least one sensor.
 4. The ball ofclaim 1, wherein the display is composed of flexible materials.
 5. Theball of claim 4, wherein the flexible materials include at least one ofan OLED material, an AMOLED material, and a PMOLED material.
 6. The ballof claim 1, wherein the display is a touchscreen that allows the displayof at least one of an image, a video, an email, an article, a web page,a touchscreen keyboard, a menu, an interactive panel and a socialnetworking page.
 7. The ball of claim 1, wherein the electroniccomponents include at least one of a processor, a memory, a powersupply, an accelometer, a gyroscope, a Wi-Fi chip, a Wi-Fi antenna, anUSB dock, a power supply, a speaker controller chip, a touchscreencontroller chip, a camera sensor chip and lens, a projector sensor chipand lens, a microphone, a holographic image sensor, a Bluetoothtransmitter and receiver, a video recorder, a projector, a fan, and acooling pad.
 8. The ball of claim 1, wherein the electronic componentsinclude software instructions for executing at least one of musicplayers, web browsers, e-mail access, text messaging, onscreenkeyboards, voice dialing, Bluetooth capabilities, character recognition,synchronization of multiple email accounts, synchronization of desktopor laptop computers or other devices, voice recording, GPS, MicrosoftOffice (MS) compatible applications, social networking functionality,multi-player connectivity, multi-application execution capability,software applications, Wi-Fi, 2G/3G/4G connectivity, menus allowing thenavigation of different applications, multimedia applications, digitalcamera access applications, Internet television display, Internet radio,touch holograms and kinetic technology.
 9. A sport accessory for use insport activities comprising: a shell having an outer surface and aninner area; a display that is attached to the shell; at least one sensorthat is located on at least one of the outer surface of the shell andthe display; electronic components located within the inner area of theshell; wherein the display is activated by the sensor and wherein thesport accessory provides computer functionality.
 10. The sport accessoryof claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor is at least one of a touchsensor, sound sensor, light sensor, image sensor, and heat sensor. 11.The sport accessory of claim 9, further comprising at least one of acamera, a projector, a speaker, and a microphone that is activated bythe at least one sensor.
 12. The sport accessory of claim 9, wherein thedisplay is composed of flexible materials.
 13. The sport accessory ofclaim 9, wherein the flexible materials include at least one of an OLEDmaterial, an AMOLED material, and a PMOLED material.
 14. The sportaccessory of claim 9, wherein the display is a touchscreen that allowsthe display of at least one of an image, a video, an email, an article,a web page, a touchscreen keyboard, a menu, an interactive panel and asocial networking page.
 15. The sport accessory of claim 9, wherein theelectronic components include at least one of a processor, a memory, apower supply, an accelometer, a gyroscope, a Wi-Fi chip, a Wi-Fiantenna, an USB dock, a power supply, a speaker controller chip, atouchscreen controller chip, a camera sensor chip and lens, a projectorsensor chip and lens, a microphone, a holographic image sensor, aBluetooth transmitter and receiver, a video recorder, a projector, afan, and a cooling pad.
 16. The sport accessory of claim 9, wherein theelectronic components include software instructions for executing atleast one of music players, web browsers, e-mail access, text messaging,onscreen keyboards, voice dialing, Bluetooth capabilities, characterrecognition, synchronization of multiple email accounts, synchronizationof desktop or laptop computers or other devices, voice recording, GPS,Microsoft Office (MS) compatible applications, social networkingfunctionality, multi-player connectivity, multi-application executioncapability, software applications, Wi-Fi, 2G/3G/4G connectivity, menusallowing the navigation of different applications, multimediaapplications, digital camera access applications, Internet televisiondisplay, Internet radio, touch holograms and kinetic technology.
 17. Thesport accessory according to claim 11, further comprising: at least onepressure sensor that measures a force exerted on the sport accessory andtransmits the force to the electronic components, wherein the sportaccessory is a helmet, and the electronic components determine whetherthe force exerted on the helmet caused a concussion.
 18. The sportaccessory according to claim 17, wherein the electronic components storeinformation about a person wearing the helmet that includes at least oneof the person's weight, height age, blood pressure, pulse rate,allergies, medical history of past concussion, and medical history ofhypertension, and wherein the electronic components use at least one ofthe force and the stored information to determine whether a potentialconcussion has occurred.
 19. The sport accessory according to claim 17,wherein if the electronic components determine that a potentialconcussion has occurred, the electronic components transmit an alert toat least one of an outside party and the person wearing the helmet. 20.The sport accessory according to claim 19, wherein the sport accessoryfurther comprises: at least one of a microphone, speaker and headsetproviding for communication between the person and the outside party.21. The sport accessory according to claim 18, wherein the helmetcommunicates wirelessly with at least one health monitor device, atleast one of the health monitors senses the person's vital signs andtransmits them to the helmet, and the electronic components determinewhether the person is in danger of suffering a sunstroke.
 22. The sportaccessory according to claim 21, wherein if the electronic componentsdetermine that the person is in danger of suffering a sunstroke or hassuffered a sunstroke, the electronic components alert at least one of anoutside party and the person wearing the helmet.
 23. The sport accessoryaccording to claim 11, wherein the sports accessory is a helmet thatcommunicates wirelessly with at least one health monitor device, atleast one of the health monitors senses vital signs of a person wearingthe helmet and transmits the vital signs to the helmet, and theelectronic components determine whether the person is in danger ofsuffering a sunstroke.
 24. The sport accessory according to claim 23,wherein if the electronic components determine that the person is indanger of suffering a sunstroke or has suffered a sunstroke, theelectronic components transmit an alert to at least one of an outsideparty and the person wearing the helmet.
 25. The sport accessoryaccording to claim 24, wherein the sport accessory further comprises: atleast one of a microphone, speaker and headset providing forcommunication between the person and the outside party.